Domestic Policy

Strategic Environment - Domestic Policy

The Vice President of India Hamid Ansari recently raised a very pertinent question recently while delivering the Fourth R.N. Kao Memorial Lecture, in the context of the functioning of India’s intelligence agencies. Who’s watching India’s watchers? The Vice President did not give any definite answers but pointed to the global experience and proposed the option of legislative oversight for India’s intelligence agencies. 

The reasons for lack of oversight presently are manifold. Since Independence, the basis for the setting up of these organizations has been executive authority. Second, they remain open to political influence, as has been the experience the world over. Third, India’s agencies did not have a written charter, till recently. And finally there is little or no understanding of the difference between secrecy and security.